Kian charged at Beatrix at lightning speed with his head down and his horns on his head ready for impact. He stood still, frozen in fear, How am I supposed to defend myself? Kian was almost at him, he could feel the ground rumbling. Before he could think, Kian was about to ram into him, but he jumped up as high as he could, his legs were like springs and his muscles contorted to his adrenaline. Kian plummeted his hooves into the dirt and kicked dust up into a full stop. Beatrix landed square on Kian’s back with his claws out and piercing deep into his hide. Kian startled and began to buck and kick, he spun and tried to shake him off. Beatrix only dug his claws deeper into his flesh, he began tearing and cutting through his skin. The bucking was so hard that he was about to fall off, so unconsciously, he bit hard into the muscle hump that went from Kian’s shoulders, to his neck. 

Kian couldn’t take it anymore, he threw himself onto the side of the hollow tree with tremendous force, which made Beatrix fall to the ground with a bloodstained muzzle and paws. Kian looked down to see Beatrix with terrified wide eyes, his tail was tucked between his legs and he appeared to be stunned. No one spoke for a moment as they both stared at each other. 

“That’s good, kid,” Kian started, “It’s good you can jump so high, and latch on like a leach,” Beatrix began to get comfortable with Kian’s soft voice. 

“Are you hurt?” Beatrix asked, He stood up and stared at the hump on Kian’s neck. He could also see blood dripping down the sides of Kian’s ribs and stomach. The blood was thick in Kian’s coarse fur, the gashes must have been pretty bad, but Beatrix was too short to see. 

“I’m fine, I have thick skin. And it wouldn’t be the first time something has clawed me like this,” Kian chuckled. Beatrix let out a sigh and looked back up at Kian, who was smiling admirably down at him. 

“Everyone! We're going to the river for a water break!” Kian stated. Everyone paused their fights and ended it by knocking their heads on each other. They all crowded behind Kian and Beatrix. He stayed close to Kian, Bartholomew’s warning about the others made him cautious. 

“Hey! Beaty!” Bartholomew ran up from behind. Beatrix looked back with a raised brow, Me? Beaty? Bartholomew strutted between him and Kian, Yolanda followed behind them. 

“Bartholomew, you know we stay in ordered lines,” Kian warned. He rolled his eyes and kept up with Beatrix.

“I saw you take down Kian. That was awesome!” 

“I didn’t take him down, he had to shake me off,” 

“Well, you still did a number on him!” Bartholomew jumped a little bit, excitement overflowed in him. Beatrix wasn’t as happy about it as Bartholomew. 

“He’s bleeding a lot though,” Beqatrix sighed. 

“I know! Imagine what you could do to a predator!” Bartholomew exclaimed. 

“Kian is fine, Beatrix. You did a great job,” Yolanda chimed in from behind. 

“You really did do great, Beatrix,” Kian looked down warmly to him. Beatrix felt his cheeks flush and his tail began to wag uncontrollably. 

“Wow. How humble of you,” Bartholomew laughed. Beatrix only stared at the ground in embarrassment and shyness. 

They made it to the river in a short time, everyone lined up and began drinking thirstily. Beatrix lapped up water like he hadn’t drank in days. The wind down at the bank was cool and fresh, it gave them all relief as it ruffled their fur. 

“Hey!” Yolanda shouted. Bartholomew used his dragon hand to scoop water and splash her in the face as she drank. She put her face in the water and waited for Bartholomew to continue drinking, then she sucked up a mouthful of water and sprayed a hard line of water at him, right in the eye. 

“What the skunk!” Bartholomew yelled. He darted towards her and went to bite her shoulder, but she dodged and he fell into the water. He growled and stared her down, she only snickered. He went to jump at her, but Kian stomped his right hoof heavily, making everyone at the river turn and look at him. 

“Don’t waste your energy, or I’ll make you clean the superior’s den!” He growled. He did not look exactly angry, he had a small smile on his face, but his voice told a different story. 

“We’re just having fun!” Bartholomew called from the edge of the water. 

Now Kian’s face matched his voice, a light smile faded into a teeth-bared scowl, “Do not talk back to me, Bartholomew!” 

Bartholomew looked away and glared at Yolanda, who did not get yelled at, at all. Beatrix had his ears up and his eyes on Bartholomew, the big muscular catoblepas’ mane was soaked at the bottom where it reached the muscular lumps of his chest. Bartholomew put his head down and shook off all the water. His mane went poofy and his tail whipped around as it smacked blood suckers off of his damp legs. They made eye contact and Beatrix suddenly felt a hot flush on his face. 

SPLASH! 

Beatrix had his whole face in the cool water, he squeezed his eyes shut and scrunched his nose. Hopefully no one noticed! Once he felt cool enough, he pulled his head out and looked around. Everyone was staring at him. The mean girls were laughing, and Bartholomew looked confused, while Yolanda, Kian, and another tenderfoot, were the only ones who were not paying attention to him. 

“Is that how mutts swim?” Duvessa teased, all her friends howled like banshees. Beatrix looked away and put his ears down. Why? Everywhere I go, I am nothing more than a “mutt”. The feeling in his heart made him want to gouge a stick into his chest and tear it out. He felt tears starting in his eyes, but he refused to let them see him cry. 

“Why don’t you go back to Jigoku, you kukan slave!” Bartholomew yelled. Beatrix looked up to see him walking towards him with his head held high and his chest puffed out. As he got closer, he could see Bartholomew’s nostrils flaring and his claws unsheathed. 

“Oh yeah? Try me, Bartholomew!” She shouted back. Beatrix felt his heart race. Please don’t fight, I’m sorry! Please! Oh Takama no Hara! Beatrix shut his eyes and prepared for war to break out right in front of him. 

“Bartholomew and Duvessa, come here! Now!” Kain demanded before anything more could happen. He opened his eyes and they were both glaring at each other as they walked to Kian. He looked at Bartholomew with shaking eyes, Bartholomew gave him a pitying look, then turned toward Kian. 

The three of them went a bit farther away to speak privately, leaving Beatrix alone with Yolanda, the two mean girls, and another male catoblepas he had yet to meet. 

“Don’t listen to them,” Yolanda said, she sat down beside him and gave him a friendly lick on the cheek. He smiled sadly and then put his head low. Everyone could tell Duvessa’s words hit hard, even the other girls looked uncomfortable. 

“I know it’s hard right now, but you are going to fit in fine here. Most of us aren’t like her, she’s just a bull,” Yolanda comforted him by taking his head in between her arm and her chest. He began to cry a little. 

“Don’t worry, we won’t let anyone hurt you,” She promised. He nodded in agreement into her soft black-emerald mane. He let out a heavy sigh and left her arm. Why do I keep crying? Why can’t I just be okay? 

Suddenly, Duvessa was right behind him, “Sorry,” She spat as she walked by. Her friends crowded her immediately. 

“I can't believe her!” Bartholomew also appeared beside him. Bartholomew had a stern, angry look on his face. 

“It’s fine, she apologized,” Beatrix’s smile was small.

Bartholomew rolled his eye and sighed, “Okay,” 

Kian walked over to the three of them, he had a grim smile on his face. As he padded over to them, they all stared at him, wondering what he was thinking.

“I’m sorry Beatrix, this won’t happen again,” He said firmly. 

Beatrix only nodded before Kian said it was time to go back to the arena. 

The walk back was quiet, Bartholomew was busy growling at himself, and Yolanda tried to calm him down. Beatrix had his ears down, still thinking about what had just happened. I get that she used a bad name on me, but calling her a kukan slave? I don’t think I could ever call someone such a cruel name.

They made it back to the arena, “We only have a little more time till the sun becomes mid-high, let’s work hard. And concentrate on ourselves!” Kian glared at Duvessa, then at Bartholomew. 

Beatrix waited by the hollow tree for Kian’s attention. Kian turned to him and stood a few tails away. 

“You did great before we left, let’s continue working on how to dodge someone's attacks,’ Kian steadied his stance and stared him down. “When I come at your left, you dodge right and try to land an attack,”

Beatrix nodded his head and felt the ground against his paw pads. Kian charged towards him, the top of his head shielded by his horns. Once again the ground was rumbling, so much that it made his knees buckle. 

Beatrix lifted his front legs and used his left hind leg to push himself to the side of Kian, who swung his head around to see Beatrix already lunging at his stomach. Beatrix gave a harsh bite to the belly of his opponent.

Kian didn’t stop there, his head went down again and used his horns to ram into Beatrix’s side. He was flung onto the ground, his head hit the dirt with a deep thump. He shook his head vigorously, shaking dirt out of his ears. 

“That was good, but make sure you keep your eyes on the enemy. You always want to know what they’re doing,” Kian smiled. Beatrix stood up happily, he liked the compliment. 

They continued to train till the sun was mid-high. They were now in the camp, it was the second feast and everyone in the camp was there, except for the other tenderfoots that train from mid-high sun to low sun. 

“You got a big rough spot on your left side,” Yolonda inspected Beatrix’s dusty brown fur. 

“Oh, yeah that’s where Kian hit me,” He turned his head towards the mangey patch on his side and began to lick his fur back to order. As he licked, he could feel the bruise that was hidden underneath his fur. 

“Beaty! You’re so dirty! You gotta wash up,” Bartholomew trotted over to him and Yolanda. Beaty? Again? 

“I’m going to clean myself after I finish this wolpertinger,” He said as Bartholomew sat down beside him.  

“Good! Because you smell like a sweaty frog,” He stuck his tongue out in disgust. Yolanda laughed, so did Beatrix. 

After some time, Beatrix finished his meal and began to clean his fur. He licked his chest and his forearm before whipping it on his head. He looked over to the side to reach his ribs with his tongue, but he was stopped by Bartholomew’s wide eyed stare. He froze, looking between him and the spot he was about to clean. 

“You eat the dirt you get on your fur?” Bartholomew finally broke the silence, but not the stare. 

“I’m not eating it, I’m getting my fur clean,” Beatrix explained, “Why are you looking at me like that?” 

“I don’t know, that seems kind of strange to me,” Bartholomew looked over at Yolanda, who giggled and nodded. 

“What’s so strange about it?” Beatrix asked with his ears spread wide. 

“That’s just not how we do it, but if it makes you clean then do it,” Yolanda replied. 

“Hmm…” Beatrix hummed in thought. 

“Well…What do you guys do?” He asked. 

Next thing Beatrix knew, he was down back at the river behind the tenderfoots arena. Bartholomew and Yolanda were splashing in the water, laughing and fighting each other. Beatrix stood out of the water, watching as they soaked their fur. 

“Come on, Beaty!” Bartholomew hollered. 

“The water’s warm!” Yolanda chimed. Beatrix shook his head. Water isn’t something Kasai Kitsune’s likes. Everyone knows that. And he called me Beaty again. 

Beatrix was lost in thought, a great time for a surprise attack. Bartholomew got out of the water a few tails away, then slowly crept over the Beatrix. Yolanda tried her best not to let out loud giggles as Bartholomew closed in on Beatrix. 

Does he call me “Beaty” because I look like a beet? I’ve never eaten a beet before. Do beets even grow here? I heard they only grow in-

SHWAA-SPLOOSH!

“Oh my! Oh what! Bartholomew?” Beatrix screamed. He was now deep in the water after BArtholomew had used his horns to lift and throw him into the river. 

Beatrix felt his heart racing, he looked around and saw Bartholomew and Yolanda laughing and swimming over to him. He felt frantic, his eyes were darting everywhere. But as soon as Bartholomew pressed his muzzle against Beatrix’s shoulder, and Yolanda was close, he felt calm. The waves made him sway like a baby in the womb, and the water really was warm. Instead of his heart racing, it felt like it was barely beating at all, his breath was slow and deep. 

“Sorry Beaty, but I had to!” Bartholomew laughed. Beatrix smiled at him with a great sparkle in his eyes that took him aback. He smiled back with full cheeks that forced his eyes closed. 

“Now wash up Beatrix!” Yolanda shouted as she splashed water on his head.

They spent a long time in the water together, they giggled like crazed hyenas, and fought like owlbear cubs. 

By the time they got back to the camp, it was the final feast and the sun was almost touching the tips of the pines out in the distance. They ate together and talked loudly about today. Bartholomew dumbly described his fight against Yolanda during training, in which Yolanda was able to take him down to the ground and force him to beg her to get off. 

“Hey kids, it’s time for rest,” Kian said to them from behind. The three of them could see that the other tenderfoots were going into their dens. They all nodded their heads and raced to their beds. 

In his moss bed with his satchel, Beatrix felt warmer than ever before, he could feel his friends sleeping beside him. The sounds of Bartholomew snoring made him feel safe and light.